RockHounds fall to Hooks, 12-5

Staff ReportsMidland Reporter-Telegram

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, August 3, 2009

From staff reports

Midland RockHounds starter Justin Souza had another rough outing for the RockHounds.

Souza gave up seven earned runs in three innings of work and dropped his record to 0-2 as the RockHounds dropped the final game of a four-game series to Corpus Christi, 12-5, on Monday night at Citibank Ballpark.

The RockHounds remained in a tie for first place in the Texas League South Division as the RoughRiders fell to the San Antonio Missions, 4-0, on Monday. The two squads will open a key four-game set today at Citibank.

The RockHounds' Matt Spencer had another big day at the plate despite the team's loss. Spencer went 2 for 4 with a home run

Spencer got the RockHounds off to a good start in the first inning as his RBI scored Chris Carter to give the 'Hounds a 1-0 lead after one inning.

However, things quickly fell apart from there as Corpus Christi hooked Souza for four runs in the second inning and three in the third to take a 7-1 lead.

The Hooks increased that lead to 11-1 when Andrew Locke hit a grand slam in the fifth inning.

The RockHounds responded with two solo shots in the sixth inning as Chris Carter and Spencer both hit homers to cut the deficit to 11-3.

The RockHounds also scored single runs in the seventh and ninth innings.

Corpus Christi tacked another run on in the seventh.

Corpus Christi starter Kenny Baugh got the win for the Hooks, going 6 2/3 innings, giving up four earned runs on nine hits and four walks with a strikeout.

The RockHounds also added 2008 first-round pick of the Oakland A's Jemile Weeks to its roster on Monday. Weeks was promoted on Monday as Rocky Roquet was placed on the disabled list.

Weeks, who is the younger brother of current Milwaukee Brewer Rickie Weeks, was 1 for 3 in his Double-A debut. Weeks was drafted out of the University of Miami in the 2008 draft.

HOUNDS GET AWARDS: Three RockHounds sweept the weekly awards given out by the Texas League as Chris Carter was named Player of the Week, while pitchers Arnold Leon and Jason Fernandez were named Pitchers of the Week.

Leon and Fernandez combined for the league's first no-hitter of the season in a 5-0, seven-inning victory over Corpus Christi in the second game of last Saturday's doubleheader at Citibank Ballpark.

Meanwhile, Carter batted .516 with two home runs and nine RBI. Carter's performance led Midland to a 6-2 record for last week and is tied for the league lead in home runs (18) and is second in RBI (80).